Apparatus for the continuous treatment of threads

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a process for squeezing and/or drying a humid thread, particularly a textile thread, in the course of a treatment, such as dyeing, effected continuously on said thread during the rectilinear displacement thereof, wherein the humid thread is passed into a zone traversed by a current of air at a pressure much lower than the pressure prevailing about the thread during the operation having provoked its humidification. The invention also relates to an apparatus for continuously treating a thread, for example a textile thread, applying the process as described hereinabove.

United States Patent Lefebvre et al.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF THREADS Inventors: Michel S.M. Lefebvre,

Saint-Quentin; Jean-Claude M. L. Hennion, Arly, both of France Omnium DeProspective Industrielle, Saint-Quentin, France Filed: Nov. 20, 1972Appl. No.: 307,763

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 107,166, Jan. 18,1971, Pat. No. 3,724,088.

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 21, 1970 France 70.02183 U.S. Cl.68/3 SS, 68/DIG. 1, 68/9, 68/15, 68/20, 68/181 R Int. Cl. B05c 9/08Field of Search 68/5 D, 5 E, 3 SS, 15, 68/20, 181 R, DIG. l, 9; 28/1.4

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1946 Reel 68/9 X Sept. 24, 19742,460,206 1/1949 Wentz 68/DlG. 1 2,642,035 6/1953 McDermott 68/181 R X3,158,886 12/1964 Grimes 68/3 SS X 3,468,002 9/1969 Parker 68/5 D XPrimary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fitzpatrick, Celia, Harper & Scinto [57]ABSTRACT This invention relates to a process for squeezing and- /ordrying a humid thread, particularly a textile thread, in the course of atreatment, such as dyeing,

effected continuously on said thread during the rectilinear displacementthereof, wherein the humid thread is passed into a zone traversed by acurrent of air at a pressure much lower than the pressure prevailingabout the thread during the operation having provoked itshumidification. The invention also relates to an apparatus forcontinuously treating a thread, for example a textile thread, applyingthe process as described hereinabove.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBSEPZMHH manta APPARATUS FOR THECONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF THREADS This is a division of application Ser.No. 107,166, filed Jan. 18, 1971, now Pat. No. 3,724,088.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the continuoustreatment of threads.

It is known that, after spinning, textile threads may undergo varioustreatments, for example dyeing or coating. At present, these treatmentsare effected on thread bobbins, and sometimes on skeins, but theirefficacity does not always present the desired homogeneity.

However, different processes are known for subjecting threads to certaintreatments during the continuous advance movement thereof. Suchcontinuous treatments generally consist in depositing a product on thethread to be treated, for example by passing this thread in a bath, thenin eliminating the excess of treating fluid by scraping obtained forexample by means of an air current circulating near the thread.

The continuous treatments of threads known up to the present day did notpermit a precise dosing of the quantity of the product deposited nor asuitable penetration of this product in the thread. This was due inparticular to the fact that the squeezing and possibly the drying of thethread by the air current were insufficient.

The invention firstly has for its object to remedy the above-mentioneddisadvantages and relates to a process for squeezing and/or drying ahumid thread, particularly a textile thread, utilisable in particularduring a treatment, such as dyeing, effected continuously on saidthread. According to the invention, the humid thread is passed through azone through which passes an air current at a pressure much lower thanthe pressure prevailing around the thread during the operation havingprovoked its humidification.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lowpressure zone is created in the supersonic flow of an air current at theoutlet of a convergent-divergent nozzle through which the thread passes.

Various other characteristics of this process and its execution willappear hereinafter in the course of the detailed description.

The invention also has for its object a particular application of theabove-defined process, particularly for the purpose of making dyed zonesand non-dyed zones appear successively in the course of dyeing a thread.

According to this latter application, after coming from a dyeing bath,the thread is passed into two convergent-divergent nozzles, the secondof said nozzles being permanently fed by an air current whose pressureupstream of said nozzle is higher than the critical" pressure at theconstriction of this nozzle, whilst the first nozzle is fed by a currentof air whose pressure upstream of said first nozzle is alternatelyhigher then lower than the critical" pressure at the constriction ofthis first nozzle.

Secondary characteristics of this particular application as well as itsadvantages will appear hereinafter, in the course of the detaileddescription.

Finally, the invention has for its object an apparatus enabling theabove-defined process and its particular application to be carried out,for the purpose of effecting on threads all types of treatments,particularly dyebe applied to all types of natural or synthetic, textileor metallic threads. The word thread as used hereinmeans any suppleelement of very small diameter with respect to its length.

The apparatus comprises at least two elementary treatment chambers, eachof them corresponding to a phase of the complete treatment that a threadmust undergo. These elementary treatment chambers are aligned and arecovery zone is provided therebetween for the active products used inthe elementary treatment chambers, at least in the first of them.

Each treatment chamber comprises two apertures for the inlet and outletof the thread, these two apertures being aligned with those of the othertreatment chamber in the direction of the thread and having a diameterclose to this latter. The shape of these apertures depends upon thenature of the treatment and willbe specified later. On the other hand,there opens out into each treatment chamber a pipe connected to a sourceof treatment fluid.

According to the invention, the recovery zone for the treatment fluidsis shaped as a chamber which surrounds, in sealed manner, the outletaperture of one treatment chamber as well as the inlet aperture of thefollowing treatment chamber, whilst each treatment chamber fed with achemically active fluid is followed by a treatment chamber fed by aninert gas, such as compressed air. Of course, the recovery chambercomprises at least one pipe connected to a recovery tank for a treatmentfluid.

In fact, in practice, it is frequently advisable, particularly in thecase of textile threads, to repeatedly dose the thread by an activeagent. This is why, as has just been indicated, at least certain of thetreatment chambers ensure only squeezing and/or drying operations andare consequently fed by an inert gas and disposed after each treatmentchamber fed by an active fluid: dye, acid, etc.

The invention will moreover be more readily understood and itsadvantages as well as various secondary characteristics will appear inthe course of the following description of a few embodiments givensolely by way of example. To this end, reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view ofa first apparatus according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a convergent-divergent nozzle equipping atleast certain of the treatment chambers fed by an inert gas.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second apparatus according to theinvention, applicable in particular in the case of dyeing a textilethread.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show variants of the apparatus of FIG. 3 utilisable inparticular when it is desired to obtain threads having treated zonesalternating with nontreated zones.

The embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 corresponds to theapplication to a thread of a known coating treatment. In particular, itenables the weight and the resistance to abrasion of a textile thread tobe increased and to be made suitable for use in a sewing machine.

Such a treatment comprises the following active elementary phases:

0. attack of the thread by an acid bath containing the coating to bedeposited on the thread;

b. neutralisation of the deposit in order to obtain the precipitation ofthe coating molecules;

c. washing;

d. squeezing and drying.

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the apparatus permittingapplication of this treatment comprises, aligned along the path followedby the thread A, elementary treatment chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The chamber 1, corresponding to the attack by the acid bath comprises apipe la connected to a tank of acid solution, by means of a pump 11. Thetwo apertures lb and 1c of this chamber are capillary tubes whosediameter, a function of that of the thread to be treated, is determinedso as to avoid, or at least limit, the leaks of liquid by gravity or bydrive. The pump 11 maintains a constant level of liquid in the chamber1.

On either side of the treatment chamber 1 are disposed two recuperationchambers and 8. They respectively surround, in sealed manner, theapertures lb and 1c and have pipes 7a and 8a ensuring the recovery ofthe leakage liquid which is returned to the tank 10.

The treatment chambers 2, 4 and 6 correspond to intermediate squeezingand possibly drying phases. Their ends are of course also surrounded insealed manner by the recovery chambers 8, l4, l5, 16, 17 and 22. In thiscase, however, the treatment fluid is compressed air passed through amain pipe 9 and terminating at the pipes 2a, 4a, 6a belonging to each ofsaid chambers. It should be emphasized that the inlet and outletapertures of these chambers 2, 4 and 6 are each in the shape of aconvergent-divergent nozzle, reference 212 and 2c forthe chamber 2.

The convergent-divergent nozzles of chambers 2, 4 and 6 are fed upstreamby a pressure higher than or at least equal to the critical" pressure atthe construction of the nozzle. It will be recalled on this subject thatcritical pressure designates the pressure prevailing at the constrictionof a nozzle and from which a supersonic flow is obtained in thedivergent part of the nozzle, although the flow is subsonic in theconvergent part thereof.

The nozzles used in the apparatus according to the invention arepreferably set out according to known methods, so that, when they exist,the shock waves provoked by thereturn of the air to a subsonic speed arelocated outside the divergent part and not, as is frequently the case,inside said latter.

FIG. 2 shows such a nozzle which may be disposed at each end of thechambers 2, 4 and 6, or at least at one of said ends, preferably at theoutlet end for the thread A. in this Figure, 50 designates the wall ofthe chamber,

v 51 the convergent part of the nozzle and 52 the divergent part.

P, will designate the ambient pressure outside the nozzle and P, thepressure inside the chamber 50. If the ratio F t P is higher than orequal to the critical value, which depends moreover on the shape of thenozzle, there is in the divergent part 52 a supersonic flow delimited bythe line 53. As is known, the supersonic flow originates at theconstriction of the nozzle.

As mentioned above, the shock waves provoked by the return of the air toa subsonic speed appear at the end of the divergent part 52. They havebeen shown by a solid line and a broken line, the first shock waves 54being of course decompression waves. They develop along thesubstantially conical surface 54 and reflect on themselves at the apex55 of this surface 54. -As is known, they then become decompressionwaves developing along the surface 56. When they have reached the zonewhere the constant pressure P,,' prevails, they reflect on this zone at57 in order then to develop along surface 58 up to its apex 59. It isknown that, when shock waves reflect on a constant pressure zone, theychange nature, so that the surface58 is delimited by compression waves.Similar phenomena continue beyond the apex 59 but it is not necessary todescribe them in order to understand the invention.

it may be said that there is, outside the divergent part 52, a zone 60delimited by a network of shock waves. It is known that the pressure pprevailing inside this zone 60 is much lower than the ambient pressureP, outside the nozzle.

When the humid thread A penetrates into zone 60; part of the liquid thatit carries is instantaneously evaporated. This evaporation is due to thefact that the pressure in the zone 60 is much lower than that whichexisted around the thread during the preceding threatment which provokedits humidification.

An effect of squeezing and/or drying of the thread is thus obtained, theefficacity of which depends upon the output of air (quantity of airper-unit time) passing through the zone 60. In fact, the quantity ofresidual humidity of the thread at the outlet of the zone 60 dependssolely upon the partial pressure of saturation of the liquid carried bythe thread in this zone. Consequently, the output of air must beregulated as a function of the desired quantity of residual humidity. inother words, the output of air must be sufficient for evacuating thehumidity released in the zone 60 and thus to maintain a partialsaturation pressure therein which is sufficiently low for theevaporation to continue suitably.

It should be emphasized here that the squeezing and- /or drying processwhich has just been described is carried out in the zone 60 whatever thedirection of displacement of the thread may be. Thus, in the embodimentshown in the Figure, this process may be carried out either at theinlet, or at the outlet of the chamber 2, 4 or 6, or at the two placessimultaneously. This will be of particular interest in the case ofcertain embodiments described later.

However, in the case where the thread penetrates into an inlet aperturesuch'as 2b, there is added to the evaporation effect describedhereinbefore, a purely mechanical squeezing of the thread near theconstriction of the convergent-divergent nozzle. Thus, during thepassage of the thread in the inlet aperture 2b, the combination may beobtained of pneumatic effects which ensure both the complete penetrationof the' thread by the acid solution brought during the passage into thechamber 1 and the regulation of the amount of the thread in acidsolution, as well as the elimination by projection of the excess of acidsolution, which is then taken up by the recovery pipe 8a. I

The treatment chamber 3 is similar to chamber 1 and is fed by theneutralising bath coming from a tank 12 by means of a pump 13. It is thesame for the chamber 5 which is fed by a washing bath coming from a tank20 by means of a pump 21.

On the other hand, the treatment chambers 4 and 6 are similar to chamber2 and ensure, if necessary, an at least partial squeezing under theconditions that were explained above.

Finally, the pairs of recovery chambers 14-15 and 16-17 have the samecharacteristics and operate under the same conditions as the chambers7-8. They return the liquid recovered to tanks 18 and 19 respectivelysuitable for the recovery of the excess of liquid after neutralisationor after washing.

The last treatment chamber 6 may open out into the free air; however, incertain cases, it may be advantageous, as shown in the drawing, toensure a complete recovery of the air leaving this chamber. In fact, itmay be charged with solid, liquid or gaseous particles which would bedangerous to allow to escape into the atmosphere.

To this end, the outlet aperture 6b is prolonged by a recovery chamber22 whose recovery pipe 22a is inclined by about 45 on the axis of thethread. A conduit 22b connected to the main pipe 9 for compressed airopens out into the chamber 22 and directs the fluid leaving through theaperture 6b directly into the pipe 22.

It is obvious that, for certain treatments, an arrangement, similar tothat of chambers 6-22 may be provided for other pairs of treatment andrecovery chambers.

Finally, if it is considered necessary, a drying by heating may beprovided, either as in intermediate phase or as a final phase. As shownin the drawing, the thread passes through a capillary tube 23 surroundedby an insulating means in which a heating resistor 24 is embedded.

The above-described treatment may also take the form of a pure andsimple attack of a polyamide thread by hydrochloric acid, thedissolution of a part of the polyamide being outside the thread formingthe dissolution, the later treatment giving the effect of coagulationand leading to a final result of the same order as before. Such atreatment no longer necessitates any addition of polyamide on the outersurface of the thread.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the invention is shown whichis applicable more particularly to the dyeing of threads. In this case,as has already been indicated above, it is essential suitably to dosethe active product, in the present case the dye, and to be sure of thereproduceability of the modes of operation. The invention enables theseconditions to be easily fulfilled.

The apparatus comprises a first treatment chamber 31 provided with afeed pipe 31a connected to a dye tank 40 and equipped with a pump 41.This treatment chamber comprises inlet and outlet apertures for thethread, constituted by capillary tubes 31b and 310 opening out into therecovery chambers 37 and 38, which surround, in sealed manner, the endsof said tubes. Pipes 37a, 38a ensure the return of the excess dye to thetank 40. Moreover, it is judicious to provide in the treatment chamberitself a pipe 31d also connected to the tank 40 to maintain asubstantially constant level of the dyeing liquid in the chamber 31.

A second treatment chamber 32 is fed with compressed air guided througha pipe 32a. Of course, as has already been indicated, the inlet andoutlet apertures of the thread 32b and 320 are constituted byconvergentdivergent nozzles, preferably of the type such as thosedescribed hereinabove with reference to FIG. 2. In practice, it does notseem necessary to provide a recovery chamber at the outlet of thechamber 32 but such a recovery chamber may prove useful in certainparticular cases.

Similarly, a heating element similar to that described with reference toFIG. 1 may be disposed at the outlet of the chamber 32.

It should also be emphasized that the chamber 31 may be equipped withheating means, constituted for example by electrical resistors disposedinside the chamber or surrounding this latter. As illustrated in FIG. 3,tubes 3le may also be used through which passes a heating fluid, such asvapour, such tubes being disposable inside or outside the chamber 31.Similarly, the chamber 31 may be disposed inside an enclosure heated byany suitable means.

Such heating means will be useful where the solubility of the dyeproducts should be increased or if it is necessary for the thread toundergo treatments such as bleaching and the application of finishes orthose which modify the tinctorial affinity.

The functioning of such an apparatus is similar to emphasize a fewparticular'points.

In the same way as before, P will designate the pressure of the air inthe pipe 32a and consequently in the chamber 32, and P, and P, the airpressures at the outlet of the aperture 32c and in the chamber 38respectively.

As soon as it enters in the aperture32b, the thread A which brings withit a certain quantity of active agent, for example the dye liquidcontained in the chamber 31, meets a flow of gas which, as a function ofthe ratio P /P,, may be subsonic, sonic or supersonic. As explainedhereinabove, there may also be, near the aperture 32b, a combination ofpneumatic effects ensuring a squeezing, which is mechanical and/or byevaporation which is all the more considerable as the speed of the flowis high. The excess of active agent is projected into the chamber 38 andreturns to the tank 40.

When the thread A has penetrated into the chamber 32, there remainsthereon a quantity of active agent, which is perfectly determined as afunction of the conditions of the treatment, particularly of the speedof the thread and the P' /P ratio. Such conditions may easily bereproduced.

When the thread A arrives near the aperture 320, it is subjected outsidethe divergent part to a decompression provoking the evaporation of theliquid which it-is carrying. This is due, as has been seen, to theformation of a network of stationary shock waves, on condition that theratio P lP is suitable and higher than the critical value which iseasily calculated as a function of the dimensions of theconvergent-divergent nozzle 320. After the instantaneous evaporation ofthe liquid, only the dye remains on the thread.

In other words, the passage of the thread in the aperture 32b enablesthe dosage of the final dye to be determined, whilst its passage in thedecompression zone located at the outlet of the aperture 32 enables itsquantity of humidity to be considerably reduced without modifying thequantity of dye which is applied thereto.

The thread may then be subjected to dye-fixing, drying or othertreatments.

It is obvious that as a function of the more or less dark shades whichit is desired to obtain, a plurality of apparatus such as that one whichhas just been described may be disposed one after the other.

Such as apparatus may on the other hand be slightly modified, accordingto a first variant embodiment (FIG. 4), in order that the treatment ofathread, for examples its dyeing according to a determined colour, belimited to certain zones of the thread.

To this end, the pipe 32a is provided with an auxiliary conduit 33capable of being placed in communication with a source of compressedair, the pressure P; of

which is notably higher than that of the air conveyed by the pipe 32a.The FIGURE simply shows the conduit 34 carrying this compressed air athigh pressure.

Means which have generally been designated by reference 35 enable theconduits 34 and 33 to be connected or on the contrary the air carriedthrough conduit 34 to be directed towards the atmosphere through conduit36, whilst isolating conduit 33. Various types of valves may be used,but it seems judicious to provide a fluid controlled binary triggercircuit shown schematically in FIG. 4 and comprising two control pipes37, 370. It is known that by means of a current of gas guided throughpipe 37 or through pipe 370, the main flow, which must then besupersonic, may be directed either towards the conduit 33 or towards theconduit 36 from conduit 34.

The operation is then as follows:

The pressure P, in the pipe 320 is firstly regulated so that it ishigher than the critical pressure in the nozzle 32c but lower than thecritical pressure in nozzle 32b. This latter characteristic may beobtained by'suitably adjusting, in known manner, the pressure Pprevailing in the chamber 38, moreover taking into account the shape ofthe nozzle 32b.

Similarly, the pressure P; is regulated so thatit is higher than thecritical pressure in the nozzle 32!); this pressure P is thennecessarily higher than the critical pressure in the nozzle 32c.

When the compressed air at high pressure P carried by the conduit 34 isdirected towards the chamber 32 through conduit 33, the operation isidentical to that which was described hereinabove with reference to FIG.3: the thread brings inside the chamber 32 a dosed quantity of activeliquid and is squeezed at the outlet of the aperture 320.

If the air coming from conduit 34 is directed towards the atmosphere,the pressure reduces sharply in the chamber 32' and becomes lower thanthe critical pressure in the nozzle 32b. The flow through this nozzletherefore becomes of the turbulent type. This is therefore no longer anyevaporation before the nozzle 32b but solely a mechanical squeezingsimilar to atomization.

However, it is ascertained that this squeezing becomes very violent fora certain duration of time when the communication is re-establishedbetween the conduit 34 and the chamber 32. During this transitoryperiod, during which the pressure in the chamber 32 tends to becomeagain higher than the critical pressure at 32b, all the liquid carriedby the thread is expelled therefrom, including the dye, before thethread penetrates into the chamber 32. It seems that this phenomenon maybe explained by the fact that, as the speed of the air is always sonicat the constriction of the nozzle 320, the waves of turbulence whichmove in the chamber 32 at sonic speed reflect on the barrier constitutedat the constriction of 320 by the front of the supersonic flow in thisnozzle 32c. The waves reflected at 32c move towards 32b and the energythat they convey is added to the energy normally dissipated in thenozzle 32b. Whatever the exact explanation of the phenomenon, it isascertained that before entering into the chamber 32, the thread is in apractically identical state to that which it had when it entered inchamber 31 (FIG. 3).

The duration of this phenomenon is however limited: it depends of courseon the respective values of P and P, as well as on the volumeconstituted by the chamber 32 and the conduit 33. This phenomenondisappears however as soon as the equilibrium is reached and thepressure P prevails in the chamber 32 and an operation similar to thatof FIG. 3 is had again.

It is easily understood that a judicious succession of the two phases ofoperation enables portions of treated thread to be obtained whichalternate with portions of non-treated thread.

These non-treated portions may then receive a different treatment, forexample another dyeing, in a consecutive apparatus similar to that whichhas just been described. To this end, it will be judicious to ensure acoupling between the controls of the two fluid-controlled binary triggercircuits in order to obtain the regularity of the two successivetreatments.

According to a second variant embodiment which may be seen in FIG. 5,the conduit 33 may be equipped with a generator 39 of sonic orsupersonic vibrations. The operation is similar to that described withreference to FIG. 4 on condition that the conditions are such that theratio PJP is close to the critical ratio permitting the appearance ofthe shock waves near the aperture 32b, whilst being lower than thiscritical ratio.

When the generator 39 is started, a concentration of energy isascertained, as in the preceding case, near the aperture 321), ensuringthe complete squeezing of the thread before it enters in the chamber 32.

Of course, there again, a plurality of consecutive ap-. paratus may beprovided for effecting different treatments on consecutive portions ofthe thread, thanks to a suitable coupling of the vibration generators.-

According to a third variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the conditionsof flow near the nozzle 32b may be modified by modifying only thepressure P in the chamber 38 whilst maintaining the pressure P, in thechamber 32 constant. As may be seen, a vibrating reed whistle 39a hasbeen disposed on the wall of the chamber 38. When the vibrating reedobturates the evacuation aperture of the whistle, the pressure P:increases so that the ratio P,/P reduces and becomes lower than thecritical value. On the contrary, when the vibrating reed uncovers saidevacuation aperture of the whistle, the conditions of flow in the nozzle32b tend towards the critical conditions provoking, in a manner similarto that explained hereinabove, a concentration of energy near 32b and acomplete squeezing of the thread before it enters in chamber 32.

It should be noted that in this case, the vibration frequency of thewhistle will be regulated as a function of the speed of the thread inorder to obtain suitable lengths of treated thread and non-treatedthread.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments that havejust been described, but covers on the contrary all the variantsthereto. In fact, it is an easy matter to conceive that the number,succession and dimensions of the various treatment and recovery chamberswill have to be adapted to the characteristics of the elementary phasesof a complex treatment, as well as to the nature of the thread to betreated. In particular, the succession without interruption of treatmentchambers by active fluids may be envisaged, these latter being eitherliquid or gaseous or even constituted by suspensions of solid particlesin liquids or gases.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for the continuous treatment of a thread during therectilinear displacement therethrough which comprises:

at least one liquid treatment chamber having inlet and outlet meansdimensioned to closely receive said thread;

conduit means connecting said liquid treatment chamber to a source oftreatment liquid;

at least one gas treatment chamber having inlet and outlet means adaptedto receive said thread, said inlet and outlet means comprisingconvergentdivergent nozzles arranged in alignment with said inlet andoutlet means of said liquid treatment chamber;

conduit means connecting said gas treatment chamber to a source ofcompressed inert gas;

said liquid treatment chamber and said gas treatment chamber beinginterconnected by a recovery chamber; and

conduit means connected to said recovery chamber and adapted to removeliquid therefrom.

2. Apparatus for the continuous treatment of a thread during therectilinear displacement therethrough which comprises:

a plurality of alternating aligned liquid treatment chambers and gastreatment chambers, each of said chambers being interconnected by arecovery chamber;

said liquid treatment chambers having inlet and outlet means fordisplacement of said thread therethrough and supply means adapted tosupply a treatment liquid thereto;

said gas treatment chambers having inlet and outlet means comprisingconvergent-divergent nozzles through which said thread passes andfurther including supply means connected to a common manifold forsupplying compressed inert gas thereto; and

said recovery chambers including conduit means adapted to recover excesstreatment liquid therefrom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet and outlet means ofsaid liquid treatment chamber comprises capillary tubes.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outlet means of the lastgas treatment chamber in the direction of thread displacement comprisesa recovery chamber including means for supply compressed inert gasthereto and a recovery conduit disposed at an angle of about 45 from thedirection of thread movement.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes heating meansdisposed in alignment with said outlet means of the last recoverychamber in the direction of thread displacement.

6. Apparatus according to claim "5 wherein said heating means comprisesa capillary tube disposed in align ment with said recovery chamber andadapted for thread movement therethrough; and insulating meanssurrounding said tube having electrically activated heating resistorsembedded therein.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said liquidtreatment chambers is provided with heating means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means connectingsaid gas treatment chamber to a source of compressed inert gas includesauxiliary conduit means connected thereto, said auxiliary conduit meansbeing adapted to provide compressed gas at a pressure higher than thecompressed gas normally provided in said conduit means, and includingmeans for selectively supplying said higher pressure compressed gas tosaid conduit means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for selectivelysupplying said higher pressure compressed gas to said conduit meanscomprises a fluid controlled binary trigger circuit.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means connectingsaid gas treatment chamber to a source of compressed inert gas includesan auxiliary conduit having a generator of sonic or supersonicvibrations mounted therein.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recovery chamber whichis preceded by a gas treatment chamber in the direction of threaddisplacement, includes means for selectively communicating the interiorthereof with the atmosphere.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said selective communicatingmeans comprises a vibrating reed whistle.

1. Apparatus for the continuous treatment of a thread during therectilinear displacement therethrough which comprises: at least oneliquid treatment chamber having inlet and outlet means dimensioned toclosely receive said thread; conduit means connecting said liquidtreatment chamber to a source of treatment liquid; at least one gastreatment chamber having inlet and outlet means adapted to receive saidthread, said inlet and outlet means comprising convergent-divergentnozzles arranged in alignment with said inlet and outlet means of saidliquid treatment chamber; conduit means connecting said gas treatmentchamber to a source of compressed inert gas; said liquid treatmentchamber and said gas treatment chamber being interconnected by arecovery chamber; and conduit means connected to said recovery chamberand adapted to remove liquid therefrom.
 2. Apparatus for the continuoustreatment of a thread during the rectilinear displacement therethroughwhich comprises: a plurality of alternating aligned liquid treatmentchambers and gas treatment chambers, each of said chambers beinginterconnected by a recovery chamber; said liquid treatment chambershaving inlet and outlet means for displacement of said threadtherethrough and supply means adapted to supply a treatment liquidthereto; said gas treatment chambers having inlet and outlet meanscomprising convergent-divergent nozzles through which said thread passesand further including supply means connected to a common manifold forsupplying compressed inert gas thereto; and said recovery chambersincluding conduit means adapted to recover excess treatment liquidtherefrom.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet andoutlet means of said liquid treatment chamber comprises capillary tubes.4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outlet means of the lastgas treatment chamber in the direction of thread displacement comprisesa recovery chamber including means for supply compressed inert gasthereto and a recovery conduit disposed at an angle of about 45* fromthe direction of thread movement.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1which further includes heating means disposed in alignment with saidoutlet means of the last recovery chamber in the direction of threaddisplacement.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said heatingmeans comprises a capillary tube disposed in alignment with saidrecovery chamber and adapted for thread movement therethrough; andinsulating means surroUnding said tube having electrically activatedheating resistors embedded therein.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein at least one of said liquid treatment chambers is provided withheating means.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduitmeans connecting said gas treatment chamber to a source of compressedinert gas includes auxiliary conduit means connected thereto, saidauxiliary conduit means being adapted to provide compressed gas at apressure higher than the compressed gas normally provided in saidconduit means, and including means for selectively supplying said higherpressure compressed gas to said conduit means.
 9. Apparatus according toclaim 8 wherein said means for selectively supplying said higherpressure compressed gas to said conduit means comprises a fluidcontrolled binary trigger circuit.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein said conduit means connecting said gas treatment chamber to asource of compressed inert gas includes an auxiliary conduit having agenerator of sonic or supersonic vibrations mounted therein. 11.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recovery chamber which ispreceded by a gas treatment chamber in the direction of threaddisplacement, includes means for selectively communicating the interiorthereof with the atmosphere.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 whereinsaid selective communicating means comprises a vibrating reed whistle.